Opp. seeks meeting with Exxon to address faulty equipment, flaring, reduced production

Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon has requested a meeting with President of Exxon Mobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge to discuss the company’s reduction in oil production and continued flaring of gas at its Liza operations offshore.

In a letter shared with the media, Mr. Harmon stated that supporters of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) have been expressing concerns over the company’s operations and its ability to maintain environmentally safe practices.

“This reported lingering malfunctioning of equipment that continues to delay the
termination of excess flaring of produced gas, plus the significant reduction of
operations to a bare minimum production level, are of considerable concerns to the
APNU+AFC Opposition, which as you are aware, represents almost half of the Guyanese population in the National Assembly,” the Leader of the Opposition noted.

Harmon added that he is in receipt of numerous queries from the party’s constituents, civil society and concerned citizens expressing their worry that ExxonMobil’s performance since inception,” appear to be far below expectations and is eroding their confidence in a safe and environmentally sound operation.”

The company reported last week that it has reduced production to 30,000 barrels of oil per day after it discovered an additional problem with its flash gas compressor which has led to continued flaring of gas in recent months.

The compressor is used in the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel to reduce its volume.

The device was sent to Germany for repairs but the company said “as we conducted the final testing phase of the reinstalled flash gas compressor and other components of the system on the Liza Destiny FPSO, we encountered an additional problem with the discharge silencer.”

As such, it noted that production was reduced to a minimum level that mitigates formation of hydrates in subsea systems, maintains gas injection and fuel gas to the power generators, and minimizes flare.

Harmon said he is seeking an urgent meeting with the ExxonMobil Guyana President and his executive team “at the earliest mutually convenient opportunity to be briefed on matters to include this recent development, the root cause(s) of equipment failures resulting in excessive flaring and reduced production, your plan with schedule for permanently addressing these root cause(s), and the short and long term economic and environmental implications for all of Guyana.”

He will be accompanied by senior Members of Parliament including the Shadow Minister for Oil and Gas.